In our last newsletter we reported that BLET President, Don Hahs, had been charged with
                 embezzling over $58,000 in members’ money for basketball tickets, fishing trips, hotel-room
                 movies, and unauthorized travel for his wife.  As a result of the ongoing investigation into his
                 activities, he was removed from office as President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
                 and Trainmen (BLET) on March 25th. 

                 In addition to removing him from office for violating his fiduciary duty to the union, the three
                 member Teamster panel suspended him from Teamster membership for one year which will
                 end his career in the union.  He must also pay a fine of $44,963. 

                 Throughout this case, Hahs has claimed that he was only doing what all the Brotherhood
                 Presidents before him did. Hahs had repeatedly contended that ‘everybody did this’.  Said
                 Hugh Sawyer, the Local Chairman of BLET Division 316, “That’s no excuse. It’s never OK
                 to steal from our members. This is a union. Not a corporation. Union dues must be spent
                 on union matters.”

                 Our former internationals are no strangers to corruption. BLET President Hahs behavior
                 is reminiscent of former UTU Presidents Charles Little and Byron Boyd who had previously
                 been convicted of wrongdoing under the RICO statutes and served time in jail.

                 Ed Rodzwicz has taken over as the new President of the BLET.